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70-687: The Arava Institute was nominated for a 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. Students at the Arava Institute live on Kibbutz Ketura while taking classes in sustainable development, water management, environmental law, economic policy, environmental science, and other topics in environmental studies. Classes are taught in English. Members of the faculty are often guest lecturers from universities, both in Israel and abroad, or professionals in fields such as public policy and water management. Students come from around

140-567: A Sustainable Israel , a New York –based nonprofit that would later become Aytzim: Ecological Judaism. Since then, Tal has served as one of the Green Zionist Alliance's Israeli representatives. Between 2004 and 2015 Tal served on the international board of the Jewish National Fund (JNF), Israel's forestry and land reclamation agency, as an elected representative of the Green Zionist Alliance, in partnership with

210-589: A combination of the Hebrew words baal (בַּעַל) "lord; master; the Phoenician god Baal " and shemen (שֶׁמֶן) "oil", thus "Lord of Oils" (or "Oil of Baal"). Greek authors use the words βάλσαμον ( Theophrastus , Aristotle ) for the balsam plant and its resin, while Galen , Nicander and the Geoponica consider it an aromatic herb, like mint. The word is probably Semitic. ὁπο-βάλσᾰμον (Theophrastus)

280-632: A garden which all the old travellers, Arab and Christian, mention with deep interest. The Egyptian town of Ain Shams was renowned for its balsam garden, which was cultivated under the supervision of the government. During the Middle Ages the balsam tree is said to have grown only there, though formerly it had also been a native plant in Syria. According to a Coptic tradition known also by the Muslims, it

350-600: A governor of Cairo to the garden there, and ten remained when Belon travelled in Egypt, but only one existed in the 18th century. By the 19th century, there appeared to be none. The German botanist Schweinfurth (1836–1925) claimed to have reconstructed the ancient process of balsam production. At present the tree Commiphora gileadensis grows wild in the valley of Mecca where it is called beshem . Many strains of this species are found, some in Somalia and Yemen. In

420-429: A plate of it. Dioscorides ( De materia medica ) attributes many medical properties to balsam, such as expelling menstrual flow ; being an abortifacient ; moving the urine; assisting breathing and conception; being an antidote for aconitum and snakebite; treating pleurisy , pneumonia , cough , sciatica , epilepsy , vertigo , asthma , and gripes (sharp bowel pains). In the era of Galen , who flourished in

490-698: A range of environmental advocacy initiatives, including preparation of proposed biodiversity protection legislation and involvement in public interest litigation. He was a plaintiff in the successful, 2014 class action suit following the massive oil spill in Israel's Ein Evrona nature reserve, that sought to cover the damage caused by negligence on the part of the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company . In March 2018, along with colleagues in academia and attorney Tzvi Levinson, Tal filed another class action against polluting chemical factories located on

560-509: A range of environmental hazards (for example, illegal sewage discharges and air and water pollution), repeatedly sued the government for inadequate implementation of environmental law, and provided free legal representation to numerous local environmental organizations. In 1995, the organization filed a highly publicized—but ultimately unsuccessful—petition to the Supreme Court to prevent the building of Highway 6 . In 1996, Tal founded

630-468: A range of research findings and issues associated with sustainable land management in drylands. He chaired five consecutive conferences, most recently in 2014. In 2008, Tal was among the founders of the Green Movement , which ran in the 2009 Knesset elections on a joint ticket with Meimad . Tal was the third candidate on the slate. The party received 1% of the popular vote, falling short of

700-466: A tree of Yemen known as kamkam ( ﮐﻤﮑﺎﻡ ) or kankam ( ﮐﻨﮑﺎﻡ ), Syriac qazqamun ( ܩܙܩܡܘܢ ), Greek κάγκαμον , Latin cancamum , mentioned by Dioscorides ( De materia medica 1.32) and Pliny ( Hist. Nat. 12.44; 12.98). Cancamon has been held for Commiphora kataf , but also as Aleurites laccifer ( Euphorbiaceae ), Ficus spec. ( Artocarpeae ), and Butea frondosa ( Papilionaceae ). Sanskrit kunkuma ( कुनकुम )

770-425: Is saffron ( Crocus sativus ). Peter Forsskål (1732–1763) found the plant occurring between Mecca and Medina . He considered it to be the genuine balsam-plant and named it Amyris opobalsamum Forsk. (together with two other varieties, Amyris kataf Forsk. and Amyris kafal Forsk. ). Its Arabic name is abusham or basham , which is identical to the Hebrew bosem or beshem . Bruce found

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840-491: Is Full: Addressing Overpopulation in Israel." In 2019, Tal joined Benny Gantz's new "Kahol Lavan Hosen LeYisrael" ( Israel Resilience ) party and was placed 25th on the Knesset list; following the merger with Yesh Atid he was ultimately placed 45th on the slate. During the election campaign he was involved in drafting the party's green platform and active in the party's outreach to Israel's environmental community. Alon Tal

910-542: Is a regular contributor to the Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs and a former board member of the Israel Council on Foreign Relations. His articles have focused on global climate change and Israeli politics. In June 2021 Tal entered the Knesset when members from the 36th Government temporarily resigned their seats to serve as ministers in the new government. During his first year as a parliamentarian, Tal

980-540: Is conferred through the anointing with chrism , which is traditionally a blend of olive oil and balsam. Balm seems to have been used everywhere for chrism at least from the sixth century. The balsam, carried originally, says Arab tradition, from Yemen by the Queen of Sheba , as a gift to Solomon, and planted by him in the gardens of Jericho , was brought to Egypt by Cleopatra , and planted at Ain-Shemesh (Ain Shams) , in

1050-594: Is sometimes offered to study biodiversity and environmental challenges in the Arava Valley. The Arava Institute is considering establishing a joint Master's program with Al-Quds University , the only Arab institution of higher learning in Jerusalem. All AIES students are required to completes a non-credit bearing Peace-Building and Environmental Leadership Seminar, which provides them with a facilitated forum for expressing their views on race, religion, identity, and

1120-520: Is the agricultural development program "Furrows in the Desert" in Turkana , Kenya, which intends to create greater food security to the region by building local capacity in sustainable agriculture. Although the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies is not an organization dedicated to de-extinction , the institute is known internationally for the revival, reintroduction, and discovery of plants such as

1190-415: Is the juice of the balsam tree. βαλσαμίνη ( Dioscorides ) is the balsam plant. Palladius names it βάλσαμος and also has βαλσαμουργός, a preparer of balsam. Related are ξῠλο-βάλσᾰμον ( Dioscorides , Strabo ) "balsam-wood", and καρπο-βάλσᾰμον (Galen) "the fruit of the balsam". Latin authors use balsamum ( Tacitus , Pliny , Florus , Scribonius Largus , Celsus , Columella , Martialis ) for

1260-624: The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies at Kibbutz Ketura, an advanced academic program that brings together Israelis, Palestinians, Jordanians and international students. In 1999, he was elected chairman of Life and Environment , the umbrella organization for Israel's environmental groups, which grew from 24 to 80 member groups during his five-year tenure. In 2001, Tal co-founded the Green Zionist Alliance: The Grassroots Campaign for

1330-569: The Bible . Alon Tal Alon Tal ( Hebrew : אלון טל , born 12 July 1960) is an Israeli politician, academic and environmentalist . He was a member of the 24th Knesset between 2021 and 2022, representing the Blue and White political party; founder of the Israel Union for Environmental Defense and the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies ; and co-founder of Ecopeace: Friends of

1400-706: The Charles Bronfman Prize for young humanitarian leadership in 2006, and used the prize money to establish the Tal Fund , which supports grassroots Israeli environmental activism. Tal received Israel's Environment Ministry's lifetime achievement award as a 48-year-old, in honor of Israel's 60th anniversary in 2008. In 2015, he joined Professor Uri Shanas as one of the founders of the "This Is My Earth - TIME" initiative an international effort to purchase biodiversity "hot spots" as conservation sanctuaries through crowd sourcing. Tal has remained active in

1470-735: The Hebrew Bible , the balm of Gilead is tsori or tseri ( צֳרִי or צְרִי ). It is a merchandise in Gen. 37:25 and Ez. 27:17, a gift in Gen. 43:11, and a medicament (for national disaster, in fig.) in Jer. 8:22, 46:11, 51:8. The Hebrew root z-r-h ( צרה ) means "run blood, bleed" (of vein), with cognates in Arabic ( ﺿﺮﻭ , an odoriferous tree or its gum), Sabaean ( צרו ), Syriac ( ܙܪܘܐ , possibly fructus pini ), and Greek ( στύραξ , in meaning). The similar word tsori ( צֹרִי ) denotes

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1540-498: The Judean date palm , an unknown Commiphora , and the frankincense tree from germination of ancient seeds found in excavations. The Judean date palm went extinct in the 1500s, while the frankincense tree was extirpated from Israel over 1500 years ago. The specimen of the unknown Commiphora, "Sheba", has yet to be formally described, but she is believed to be the tsori or Judean balsam, two plants with healing properties referenced in

1610-567: The Palestinian Ministry of Environment , prepared a “shadow treaty” for a final settlement between Israel and the Palestinians, which offered an ambitious vision of cooperation and coordinated management. Tal also helped bring together 15 Israeli and 15 Palestinian water experts to consider specific areas of agreement and disagreements in regional water management, which was published in the 2010 book Water Wisdom . Tal won

1680-587: The Queen of Sheba to King Solomon . In the later days of Jewish history, the neighborhood of Jericho was believed to be the only spot where the true balsam grew, and even there its culture was confined to two gardens, the one twenty acres in extent, the other much smaller ( Theophrastus ). According to Josephus , the Queen of Sheba brought "the root of the balsam" as a present to King Solomon ( Ant. 8.6.6). In describing Palestine , Tacitus says that in all its productions it equals Italy, besides possessing

1750-514: The Septuagint for translating tsori , denotes a resin of the pine , especially Pinus maritima ( πεύκη ). The Aramaic tserua ( ܨܪܘܐ ) has been described as the fruit of Pinus pinea L. , but it has also been held for stacte or storax . The Greek ῥητίνη ξηρά is a species of Pinaceae Rich. The lexicographer Bar Seroshewai considered the Arabic dseru ( ﺿﺮﻭ ),

1820-676: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1980, he moved to Israel and enlisted in the Israeli army . He changed his name to Alon Tal after making aliyah to Israel and becoming an Israeli citizen. He served in the Nahal paratrooper division and saw action in the 1982 First Lebanon War . After his discharge, Tal attended Hebrew University Law School in Jerusalem . During his time at law school, Tal played saxophone and fiddle in

1890-462: The holy incense , is taken by Hebrew commentators for opobalsamum ; this, however, is perhaps rather stacte . Another Hebrew word, bosem ( בֹּשֶׂם ), Aramaic busema ( ܒܣܡܐ ), Arabic besham ( بشام ), appears in various forms throughout the Hebrew Bible. It is usually translated as "spice, perfume, sweet odour, balsam, balsam-tree". The Greek βάλσαμον can be interpreted as

1960-407: The tsori with the mastic tree, Pistacia lentiscus L. The Arabic name of this plant is dseri or dseru , which is identical with the Hebrew tsori . Rauwolf and Pococke found the plant occurring at Joppa . Ödmann  [ sv ] and Rosenmüller thought that the pressed juice of the fruit of the zukum -tree ( Elaeagnus angustifolia L. ) or the myrobalanus of

2030-875: The Conservative Movement. He was appointed chair of the JNF's subcommittee for sustainability, which in 2005 drafted new policies for the organization's forestry, reservoirs and stream restoration program. In 2006, Tal was appointed chair of the Land Development Committee, which oversees the JNF's forestry and land restoration work. Advocating a new sustainable agenda for the organization, he promoted, expanded funding for sustainable afforestation, bike trails and research. In 2014 he launched an initiative to prioritize JNF financial support for environmental projects in Israel's Arab communities. In 2007, Tal and Mohammad Said Al-Hmaida, former director of

2100-807: The Earth–Middle East , This Is My Earth , the Israel Forum for Demography, Environment and Society, Aytzim: Ecological Judaism , and the Green Movement . Tal was appointed chair of the Department of Public Policy at Tel Aviv University in 2017. Tal was born on July 12, 1960, and grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina , as Albert Rosenthal. He was active in the Young Judaea youth movement, served on its national executive board, and participated in its Israel program in 1977. After graduating from

2170-596: The Green Movement's position and Gallant's appointment was cancelled. During Tal's tenure, the party also initiated campaigns to save the Samar sand dunes, to prevent the privatization of national parks, to stop the development of highway overpasses in the Jerusalem Forest and to create a “ Green New Deal ” for Israel's economy. Tal also successfully sponsored an initiative to ensure gender equality in

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2240-803: The Israeli government's environmental enforcement program, evaluating national environmental education programs, forestry policy, surveying Israel's environmental movement and assessing a range of environmental history and policy issues. He has been a visiting professor or affiliated with numerous universities including the Harvard School of Public Health (1989-1997); University of Otago Law School (1998, 2003, 2008, 2016); Stanford University Center for Conservation Biology (2011, 2013–14); Michigan State University (2015) and Renmin University of China (2015). In 2017, Tal returned to Tel Aviv University to assume

2310-665: The Jews in their despairing frenzy from destroying the trees. Then they became public property, and were placed under the protection of an imperial guard; but history does not record how long the two plantations survived. According to Pliny ( Hist. Nat. 12:54), the balsam-tree was indigenous only to Judea, but known to Diodorus Siculus (3:46) as a product of Arabia also. In Palestine, praised by other writers also for its balsam ( Justinus , 36:3; Tacitus , Hist. 5:6; Plutarchus , Vita Anton . c. 36; Florus , Epitome bellorum 3.5.29; Dioscorides , De materia medica 1:18) this plant

2380-747: The Middle East, as well as an online presence on Facebook, a private online network (NING), updated pages on the Arava website for alumni, a newsletter, and more. In addition to its academic programs, the Arava Institute conducts cross-border studies in four research centers: In addition, the Arava Center for Sustainable Development (ACSD), under the supervision of Dr. Shmuel Brenner, aims to reduce poverty, enhance sustainability and empower communities by supporting locally driven, environmentally focused development programs worldwide. One of those programs

2450-482: The Middle East. AIES students can participate in semester and year-long programs accredited through Ben Gurion University as well as two master's degree graduate programs granted by Ben-Gurion University – one in Environmental Desert Studies and the other a "Green" MBA that teaches environmental sustainability and efficiency as well as business management skills. A three-week summer course

2520-523: The Promised Land , his survey of environmental history in Israel: “The most critical single factor in understanding the downside of Israel’s environmental history is population pressure: with an average increase of one million people a decade, the land soon became very crowded. Israel’s population density is now roughly 270 people per square kilometer. Eventually economics, water resources, noise and

2590-793: The Rotem plain, based on the massive contamination of the underlying groundwater and the resulting polluting of the pristine Boqeq stream in the Dead Sea region. At the time, it was the highest damages ever sought in an Israeli environmental civil action. Tal taught at the Tel Aviv University Law School from 1990 until 2004. In 2005 he joined the faculty of the Desert Research Institutes at Ben Gurion University. His research has focused on water policy, monitoring transboundary stream water quality, assessing

2660-661: The Swedish version have "salve", "ointment" in the passages in Jer. , but in Ezek. 27:17 they read "mastic". Gesenius , Hebrew commentators ( Kimchi , Junius , Tremellius , Deodatius ), and the Authorized Version (except in Ezek. 27:17, rosin ) have balm , balsam , Greek βάλσαμον , Latin opobalsamum . Besides the tseri , another Hebrew word, nataph ( נׇטׇפ ), mentioned in Ex. 30:34, as an ingredient of

2730-563: The actual source was a terebinth tree in the genus Pistacia . In the Bible, balsam is designated by various names: בֹּשֶׂם ( bosem ), בֶּשֶׂם ( besem ), צֳרִי ( ẓori ), נָטָף ( nataf ), which all differ from the terms used in rabbinic literature . After having cast Joseph into a pit, his brothers noticed a caravan on its way from Gilead to Egypt, "with their camels bearing spicery, and balm, and myrrh " ( Gen. 37:25 ). When Jacob dispatched his embassy into Egypt, his present to

2800-476: The adjective "Tyrean", i. e. from the Phoenician city of Tyre . Many attempts have been made to identify the tsori , but none can be considered conclusive. The Samaritan Pentateuch ( Gen. 37:25) and the Syriac bible ( Jer. 8:22) translate it as wax ( cera ). The Septuagint has ῥητίνη , "pine resin". The Arabic version and Castell hold it for theriac . Lee supposes it to be "mastich". Luther and

2870-564: The ancients, is the substance denoted; but Rosenmüller, in another place, mentioned the balsam of Mecca ( Amyris opobalsamum L. , now Commiphora gileadensis (L.) C.Chr.) as being probably the tsori . Zukum oil was in very high esteem among the Arabs, who even preferred it to the balm of Mecca, as being more efficacious in wounds and bruises. Maundrell found zukum -trees near the Dead Sea . Hasselquist and Pococke found them especially in

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2940-499: The balsam tree and its branches or sprigs, as well as for its resin, opobalsamum (Pliny, Celsus, Scribonius Largus, Martialis, Statius , Juvenal ) for the resinous juice of the balsam tree, and xylobalsamum (Pliny, Scribonius Largus, Celsus) for balsam wood, all derived from Greek. Assuming that the tsori was a plant product, several plants have been proposed as its source. Celsius (in Hierobotanicon ) identified

3010-493: The deafening silence.” In an article in the Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs , Tal points out that: Overpopulation is another serious obstacle that Israel faces in dealing with climate change. By enacting more campaigns surrounding family size, Israel could begin to tackle climate change on a larger scale. Tal concludes with the statement: "As a democratic country with an intelligent, patriotic citizenry that cares about

3080-449: The environs of Jericho . In the 19th century, the only product in the region of Gilead which had any affinity to balm or balsam was a species of Eleagnus . Bochart strongly contended that the balm mentioned in Jer. 8:22 could not possibly be that of Gilead, and considered it as the resin drawn from the terebinth . The Biblical terebinth is Hebrew eloh ( אֵלׇה ), Pistacia terebinthus L . The Greek word ῥητίνη , used in

3150-487: The first with thin, capillaceous leaves; the second a crooked scabrous shrub; and the third with smooth rind and of taller growth than the two former. He tells us that, in general, the balsam plant, a shrub, has the nearest resemblance to the grapevine, and its mode of cultivation is almost the same. The leaves, however, more closely resemble those of the rue , and the plant is an evergreen . Its height does not exceed two cubits . From slight incisions made very cautiously into

3220-643: The five most diligent members of the twenty-fourth Knesset and Israel's leading parliamentarian in bi-partisan initiatives. Tal was one of Israel's first advocates favoring a national policy to reduce population growth as a precondition to a sustainable future. In 2011, a national convention of the Green Party supported a position that in general recognized the importance of the population issue, but chose not to prioritize it immediately. Tal called attention to population growth as early as 2002, in Pollution in

3290-424: The general dysfunction caused by the unbearable density will push Israel into a confrontation with advocates of large families and mass immigration. Environmentalists should not be afraid to speak on behalf of the many natural treasures that will otherwise be decimated by the crowds; flora and fauna are the first to pay for human encroachment on shrinking habitat. Future generations will certainly have reason to resent

3360-520: The genus Protium . Botanists enumerate sixteen balsamic plants of this genus, each exhibiting some peculiarity. There is little reason to doubt that the plants of the Jericho balsam gardens were stocked with Amyris gileadensis L. , or Amyris opobalsamum , which was found by Bruce in Abyssinia, the fragrant resin of which is known in commerce as the "balsam of Mecca". According to De Sacy ,

3430-554: The implications of Israel's population dynamics and raise awareness among the general public about how to begin the process of demographic stabilization. He has since written widely in the Israeli and the international press about the perils of overpopulation in Israel and the world. Tal was listed in the 24th slot on the National Unity party list. He was not re-elected as the party won 12 seats and left office on 15 November 2022. Balm of Gilead Balm of Gilead

3500-568: The institute have gone on to work in cross-cultural projects. Others are working in NGOs working on solutions to hygiene and energy in rural and poor areas, working on environmental education and awareness, activists in peace-related activities and more. The Arava Institute has recently added a new network to build more connections between alumni. The Arava Alumni Peace and Environmental Network (AAPEN) brings together alumni from all years of study during an annual conference held in varying locations in

3570-415: The palm and the balsam ( Hist. 5:6); and the far-famed tree excited the cupidity of successive invaders. By Pompey it was exhibited in the streets of Rome as one of the spoils of the newly conquered province in 65 BCE; and one of the wonderful trees graced the triumph of Vespasian in 79 CE. During the invasion of Titus , two battles took place at the balsam groves of Jericho , the last being to prevent

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3640-455: The party, ensuring parallel female and male party co-chairs. In 2010 the Green Movement joined with the Hatnuah party for the 2013 elections . Tal was placed 13th on the party list and oversaw the party's environmental platform. Six months after the elections, he stepped down as party chairman to complete his sabbatical at Stanford University, where he wrote his most recent book: "The Land

3710-472: The planet, Israel may yet rise to met its global climate change commitments". In 2015, along with Professor Eyal Rotenberg from the Weizmann Institute , Tal founded the non-profit organization "Zafuf" - the Israel Forum for Demography, Environment and Society. The advocacy group, for the first time, brings a diverse group of Israel academics, activists and concerned citizens together to consider

3780-554: The plant occurring in Abyssinia . In the 19th century it was discovered in the East Indies also. Linnaeus distinguished two varieties: Amyris gileadensis L. (= Amyris opobalsamum Forsk. ), and Amyris opobalsamum L. , the variant found by Belon in a garden near Cairo , brought there from Arabia Felix . More recent naturalists ( Lindley , Wight and Walker ) have included the species Amyris gileadensis L. in

3850-505: The political situation. This is often considered as a successful environmental peacebuilding practice and can make a small, yet important effect on everyday (or local) peace . Many of the Arava Institute graduates are working in the environmental or peacebuilding field. The institute has created an alumni network to continue supporting alumni by providing personal and professional contacts as well as seed money for alumni projects that demonstrate cross-cultural cooperation. Several alumni of

3920-564: The popular Jerusalem-based rock band, Liquid Plummer. In 1983 he began work as a legal intern in Israel's Environmental Protection Service (part of the Ministry of Interior ) and subsequently clerked in the office of Israel's Attorney General , Yitzhak Zamir . In 1986, Tal returned to the U.S. and enrolled in the Harvard School of Public Health , where he studied Environmental Science and Public Policy. His doctoral dissertation, which

3990-628: The position of Chair of the Department of Public Policy. After leaving the Knesset, he accepted an appointment as a visiting professor at the Stanford University Business school. In 2006, in conjunction with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification , he initiated a bi-annual international Conference on Drylands, Deserts and Desertification at Ben Gurion University , which brings together some 500 participants from over 60 countries to discuss

4060-585: The required 2% electoral threshold . In 2010, Tal was elected chair of the party and began promoting a broad social and environmental agenda. Shortly thereafter, the Green Movement took legal action to prevent the appointment of Yoav Gallant as chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces , due to his seizure of public land next to his home and the filing of a false affidavit to the Supreme Court. The Attorney General eventually accepted

4130-408: The rind ( Josephus , Ant. 14.4.1; War 1.6.6) the balsam trickles in thin drops, which are collected with wool into a horn, and then preserved in new earthen jars. At first it is whitish and pellucid , but afterwards it becomes harder and reddish. That is considered to be the best quality which trickles before the appearance of the fruit. Much inferior to this is the resin pressed from the seeds,

4200-425: The rind, and even from the stems (see Theophrastus , Hist. Plant. 9:6; Strabo 16:763; Pausanias 9.28.2). This description, which is not sufficiently characteristic of the plant itself, suits for the most part the Egyptian balsam-shrub found by Belon in a garden near Cairo . The plant, however, is not indigenous to Egypt, but the layers are brought there from Arabia Felix ; Prosperus Alpinus has published

4270-435: The second century, and travelled to Palestine and Syria purposely to obtain a knowledge of this substance, it grew in Jericho and many other parts of the Holy Land . The terms used in rabbinic literature are different from those used in the Hebrew Bible: קׇטׇף ( kataf ), בַּלְסׇם ( balsam ), אַפּוֹבַּלְסַמוֹן ( appobalsamon ), and אֲפַרְסְמוֹן ( afarsemon ). In the Talmud , balsam appears as an ointment which

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4340-403: The true balm of Gilead (or Jericho) has long been lost, and there is only "balm of Mecca". The accepted name of the balsam plant is Commiphora gileadensis ( L. ) Christ. , synonym Commiphora opobalsamum . Cedronella canariensis , a perennial herb in the mint family, is also known as Balm of Gilead, or Herb of Gilead. Balsam oil was too volatile and flammable to be used as fuel. In

4410-410: The unknown ruler included "a little balm" ( Gen. 43:11 ). During the final years of the Kingdom of Judah , Jeremiah asks "Is there no balm in Gilead?" ( Jer. 8:22 ). Still later, from an expression in Ezekiel 27:17 , balm was one of the commodities which Hebrew merchants carried to the market of Tyre . According to 1 Kings 10 :10, balsam ( Hebrew : bosem ) was among the many precious gifts of

4480-470: The world to study and conduct research at the Arava Institute. Since its founding in 1996, by Alon Tal , the Arava Institute has hosted over 800 graduate and undergraduate students of various nationalities, including Israeli Jews, Israeli Arab , Palestinian , Jordanian , Egyptian , Tunisian , Moroccan , European and American students. The Arava Institute has been able to maintain a diverse student body even during very difficult times elsewhere in Israel and

4550-481: Was a highly praised product of the Jericho plain. However, its main use was as a topical medication rather than as a cosmetic. Rav Yehudah composed a special blessing for balsam: "Who creates the oil of our land". Young women used it as a perfume to seduce young men. After King Josiah hid away the holy anointing oil , balsam oil was used in its stead. In the messianic era, the righteous will "bathe in 13 rivers of balsam". The Christian rite of confirmation

4620-435: Was a rare perfume used medicinally that was mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and named for the region of Gilead , where it was produced. The expression stems from William Tyndale 's language in the King James Bible of 1611 and has come to signify a universal cure in figurative speech. The tree or shrub producing the balm is commonly identified as Commiphora gileadensis . However, some botanical scholars have concluded that

4690-460: Was appointed as chair of the Knesset Subcommittee on Environmental and Climate Impacts on Health as well as Co-Chair of the Public Complaints committee. Among the many bills he submitted are the State of Nature Report Law, a new Forestry and Tree Protection Law and Amendments to Israel's Coastal Environment Protection Law, Cleanliness and Class Action Suit Law. Tal was recognized by Shakuf, an Israeli organization that promotes good government as one of

4760-424: Was cultivated in the environs of Jericho ( Strabo , 16:763; Diodorus Siculus 2:48; 19:98), in gardens set apart for this use (Pliny, Hist. Nat. 12:54; see Josephus , Ant. 14.4.1; 15.4.2; War 1.6.6); and after the destruction of the state of Judea, these plantations formed a lucrative source of the Roman imperial revenue (see Diodorus Siculus 2:48). Pliny distinguishes three different species of this plant;

4830-415: Was funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , analyzed state strategies to control agricultural nonpoint source pollution . Tal returned to Israel in 1989 and settled at Kibbutz Ketura with his wife Robyn. In 1990, he founded Adam Teva V'din, the Israel Union for Environmental Defense , one of Israel's leading advocacy groups. In this capacity, he initiated successful legal action to address

4900-480: Was in the spring of Ayn Shams that Mary, the mother of Jesus , washed the swaddling clothes of the latter on her way back to Judaea after her flight to Egypt . From that time onwards, the spring was beneficent, and during the Middle Ages balsam-trees could only produce their precious secretion on land watered by it. The story is reminiscent of Christian legends about the Fountain of the Virgin in Jerusalem. Prosper Alpinus relates that forty plants were brought by

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